New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-01-10
GOUNDSM4N MONTG OMERT'S STORY.

HE TELLS THE CORONER HOW POLICEMAN ROCkkE
SHOT HIM-nIs CONDITION PRECARioUs.
Roundsman Robert Montgomery, who was shot
by Policeman william j Eoake ht' IN saturday even
eng. in "A precarious condition yesterday at inc
Pre- sbytcrian Hospital Tho wound IN hls nght siao'
however, not necessarily fatal. lie Is Kept under
the influence OF opLltcs. Tho bullet II Is believed,
has voun cd tho LIVER and the only chance the
patient has Ia that the bullet has passed entirely
through II. and lodged in tho MUSCULAR tissue oil to
back Coroner Edman took tho roundsmans ahD
norton statement Yesterday. His story was a'
follows:
I am a roundsman OF the Twenty fifth Precinct
| I went out with my platoon at p. IN. yesterday
came down Fifth whio pstrolllng. ana ala mol
find Officer william J. Rourke. had an IDEA that
he was In shanty on tho east side OF flth ave. DC
tupeen Seventy third and Seventy fourth sts. On
opening tho door | ROurlIe sitting down, With
| his coat unbottoned and his club and belt on He
made some lncoheront explanation VI his conduct ana
asked Whether going n mako complaint against
him. 10 which answered eyes" iio then began to
PIT is0e language
Whom Eourke and got to tho west side OF Mail
son ave. at Seventy third At which was the eAiIome
end OF his rost left him and walked townN Fourth
ave When had reached point about twenty fee
cast OF piadlon ave fot a singing pain In my LETT
wrist AMI heard shOt turned around ana saw
Rourke coming townrd me with hl' pistol SHINING III
his left hand. I trrd To stop HIM when The niuzAc
of tho Llsto came to~ar' me ana mo pi-o' "'' ""
struggled TO got thu pistol away iI"m him am "o
both went down. He wa- trying to point inc pis'ol
| at mo again / chung to 1t anil ciod iof heip'
then lit the sting OF tho wound In my right side
made two charges against Eourke. Inc last one
Urn, tried by General Porter On Wednesday iast lie
never threatened mo before. Tho allegation ihado
| by Rourke that I had struck him rs not true
desire TO state that both 'cft tho "hany tose'ber
The shot received was not nrod during the struggle
| huf UNA deliberately aimed at
Roundsman Montgomery Is forty years old. and has
boen q member OF the police k,rco ipr dftrrn years
| ue IL an ardent temperance man and s exceedingly
OCULAR with bis associates lie WAS for many years
on tho Steamboat Squad, and was TRANSFERRED last
| year to the Fifty ninth Street station' C"p,'h
Gunner said yesterday that he mover saw better
~ rnor. faithful officer. His family Is Ia good cir
cumstancce.
pourtc IL thirty Two years Old and was appointed
| q rocsman on Juno IA 1882 Rourke was In Cap
tain Gunners precinct until July 90. 1888, when no
was transferred to tho Tlrst Precinct charge
| that he had insulted Il woman ia First-ave., which
,yas aferward dismissed, tho cause OF the trans
for Tb,re had been many other complaints against
him On August 3, 1853. he fired Two piston sn"'S
at James Gray but he claimed that ne hrod inc shoI'
at n pickpocket. From tho Fist PRECINCT No was
cent TO Captain wIhnms's precinct Captain "hF
Jams brought him Leiorc the cJnmissiohcr' OH
.,ar,,s ~ being off post and In 4 liquor storc. Rourho
| cIaIvne, that be was being pcrsccuted and usoh Ms
,,,,caI indn.uee u. 80 Gre his ri:sicr 10 captain
1890. ,rccinct Cnp.iln Gunner lccturod him.
| and be nromised not " drink Rourke Ii mairioa
o,a haa tv0 children. lie 'iescrtel hls wlfe 1T ono
| ,iwc hur recently went bick TO live with her
Tn tho yorkyille Police Court yesterday Justice Smith
held Rourke await the action OF tho coroner. %
had nothing TO say iuftber IMAM that ho vi"
| nature OF the charge hghihs' n''h'